Services
Services in Burlington
City of Burlington or Halton Region: who runs what, and how to reach them, from their own pages.
New to Burlington? Your moving-in checklist
Before you move, open your Burlington Hydro account, which also carries your water bill from Halton Region, and move or start your Enbridge Gas service. In your first week, look up your collection day, update your driver's licence and health card, and sort out parking and your dog licence. Then register children for school, get set up for transit and recreation, and find your ward before the 2026 election.
Garbage, recycling and Green Cart in Burlington
Halton Region collects Burlington's garbage, Green Cart, yard waste and bulk items; since 1 January 2026 the Blue Box has been run by Circular Materials Ontario, and the City of Burlington runs its own loose-leaf pickup in the fall. The Green Cart goes out every week and garbage every other week, three bags or cans before tags. Your collection day depends on your address: look it up in Halton's online schedule.
- Who collects garbage and recycling in Burlington?
- What day is garbage collection in Burlington?
- How often is each stream collected?
- Did my Blue Box day change when Circular Materials took over?
- My waste was not collected. What do I do?
- What goes in the Green Cart?
- How much garbage can I put out?
- What goes in the Blue Box now?
- How do I get rid of a couch or a mattress?
- Will the Region pick up an old fridge or other metal?
- How do I put out yard waste?
- When does the City pick up loose leaves?
- Where do I get garbage bag tags?
- Are wheeled garbage carts coming to Burlington?
Property tax in Burlington: 2026 rates and due dates
The City of Burlington bills property tax for itself, Halton Region (including police) and the Province's school boards. The 2026 urban residential rate is 0.01015281 of assessed value, or $1,015.29 for every $100,000, up 4.50 per cent from 2025. The 2026 final bill is due in two instalments, on 23 June and 23 September.
- What is the 2026 residential property tax rate in Burlington?
- How much is that per $100,000 of assessment, and how is it split?
- How much did property tax go up in 2026?
- What does the City's share pay for?
- When is property tax due in 2026?
- How can I pay my Burlington property tax?
- Who do I ask about my tax bill?
Who do I call in Burlington?
City services, including roads, parking, by-laws, parks, recreation and property tax, go to Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 or city@burlington.ca, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Garbage, water and other Regional services go to Halton Region at 311. Burlington Transit is 905-639-0550. The police non-emergency line is 905-825-4777; for an emergency, call 911.
- How do I reach the City of Burlington?
- How do I report a pothole or a broken sidewalk?
- How do I report a by-law problem?
- Who do I contact about Burlington Transit?
- What is 311, and who answers it?
- Who runs my water and sewer service?
- Who fixes a Regional road?
- What is the police non-emergency number?
- How do I reach the Halton District School Board?
- How do I reach the Halton Catholic District School Board?
Parking in Burlington: limits, permits, winter
On most Burlington residential streets you can park for up to five hours, day or evening, and not between 1 and 6 a.m. unless signs say otherwise. Each licence plate can get 15 exemption days a year to park longer or overnight, and residents can buy a citywide on-street permit for $30 a month. When a snow event is declared, cars must be off the street until it is declared over.
Snow clearing in Burlington: roads and sidewalks
Burlington plows primary and secondary roads once 5 cm of snow has fallen and residential roads at 7.5 cm, after the main roads are done, aiming to have every road plowed within 24 hours after the snow stops. City crews begin clearing sidewalks at 5 cm and aim to finish within 48 hours of the end of the snowfall. During a declared snow event, cars must be off the street.
Burlington noise by-law: quiet hours and complaints
Burlington's Nuisance and Noise Control By-law (019-2003) bans amplified sound clearly audible at a neighbour's property from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. (9 a.m. on Sundays), construction equipment from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day on Sundays and statutory holidays, and persistent barking or shouting at any time. Exemptions for things like extended construction hours need a noise exemption permit. Report noise to By-law Enforcement at 905-335-7731 or bylaw@burlington.ca.
- Which by-law controls noise in Burlington?
- Is any noise a nuisance, or only noise at certain hours?
- When do I have to turn the music down in Burlington?
- What hours are allowed for construction noise?
- When can I use a lawn mower, leaf blower or power tools?
- Is a barking dog against the noise by-law?
- What vehicle noise does the by-law ban?
- What other noises have set hours?
- What noise is exempt from the by-law?
- How do I get a noise exemption permit in Burlington?
- What does the by-law require in an exemption application?
- How do I report a noise complaint in Burlington?
- What is the penalty for breaking the noise by-law?
Burlington building permits, fences, pools and by-laws
In Burlington, all construction related to a building or structure needs a building permit under the Building Code Act, except listed small projects such as one-storey sheds under 15 square metres with no plumbing, fences and on-grade patios. A pool, swim spa or hot tub needs a pool permit before it is installed. Building permit applications are accepted electronically only, by email to buildingpermits@burlington.ca.
- When do I need a building permit in Burlington?
- Do I need a permit to build a deck or porch?
- Do I need a permit for a shed?
- What happens if I build without a permit?
- Do I need a permit for a fence in Burlington?
- Does my neighbour have to share the cost of a new fence?
- Do I need a permit for a pool or hot tub?
- What does a pool approval cost in Burlington?
- What are the pool fence rules in Burlington?
- How do I apply for a building permit in Burlington?
- What is a Pre-Building Approval Application?
- How do I book a building inspection?
- Does a Burlington building permit expire?
- How do I check the status of a building permit?
- How do I report a by-law violation in Burlington?
- Which property by-laws does By-law Enforcement handle?
Burlington tree by-laws: private and City trees
Inside Burlington's urban boundary, the Private Tree By-law (040-2022) requires a permit to injure or remove a private tree 20 cm in diameter or more measured 1.37 m above the ground, and any heritage tree or endangered species. Every tree on public property, of any size, is protected city-wide by the Public Tree By-law (098-2025). Apply online through the City's tree permit portal, or through your pre-building or pool application if you have one.
- Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Burlington?
- When don't I need a tree permit?
- How do I measure a tree's diameter for the by-law?
- What else does the by-law exempt, and what if I remove a tree in an emergency?
- How do I apply for a tree permit in Burlington?
- How much does a tree permit cost?
- Do I have to replace a tree I remove?
- What are the fines for removing a tree without a permit?
- Can I remove or prune a City tree in front of my house?
- Who do I contact about a City tree that worries me?
- How often does the City prune street trees?
- What am I not allowed to do to a City tree?
- Does Halton Region have its own tree by-law?
Utilities in Burlington: hydro, water and gas
Burlington Hydro, owned through the City of Burlington, delivers electricity and also bills Halton Region's water and wastewater charges on the same bi-monthly bill, so one account covers both. Halton Region runs the water and sewer system and sets the rates, and Enbridge Gas supplies natural gas. Open a Burlington Hydro account online with at least 10 business days' notice, and move or start gas service online with Enbridge.
- Who supplies electricity in Burlington?
- How do I open a Burlington Hydro account when I move in?
- How do I move or close my Burlington Hydro account?
- How do I report a power outage?
- Who provides water and sewer service in Burlington?
- How is my water bill worked out?
- Who is responsible for the water account, the owner or the tenant?
- What should I do about water charges when I buy a home?
- Who do I call about a leaking or broken water meter?
- Who supplies natural gas in Burlington?
- How do I start or move my gas service?
- What do I do if I smell gas?
Burlington wards and council: who represents you
Burlington City Council is the Mayor plus six ward councillors, one for each of the city's six wards, and all seven also sit on Halton Regional Council. New ward boundaries set by By-law 030-2025 are used for the 2026 election and take effect on Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, when the new Council is sworn in. Voting in the 2026 municipal election runs from Oct. 14 to Oct. 26, 2026, election day.
- How is Burlington City Council made up?
- What is Halton Regional Council, and how many seats does Burlington have?
- Which ward am I in?
- What is changing in Burlington's ward boundaries in 2026?
- How does council make its decisions?
- Can I watch council meetings?
- Where do I find agendas and minutes?
- How do I speak at a council or committee meeting?
- How do I send council written comments or a petition?
- How do I contact my councillor directly?
- When is Burlington's 2026 municipal election?
- Is the Halton Regional Chair on the ballot?
- How do I check that I am on the voters' list?